Settle a debate: Who is responsible for maintaining contact parent or child?

My sons ';father'; feels it is my 8yr old sons job to call him when he wants to talk(he lives in FL us in KS).


I feel it is a parents job to maintain contact until the child is at least 16.


If my son wanted to talk to him fine he can call I don't prevent that but it should not be solely a childs responsibilty stay in contact right?Settle a debate: Who is responsible for maintaining contact parent or child?
U are right. The child didn't ask to be born and the parent is the adult, so the child should be allowed to be a child and the parent should be expected to be a parent. My ex-husband has the same issue, but I let him know, that if he allows it I will allow his son to forget him. I never say negative stuff. In fact, I never say anything at all about the man. And when weeks pass and my son hasn't mentioned him, I just make sure he know I love him. If my son asks to call, I let him.


Good luck!Settle a debate: Who is responsible for maintaining contact parent or child?
The parent.
The fathers
It is the Parents responsibility to eb a PARENT.Making oyur son be the one to initate contact is wrong for his Father to do.Sounds like his Father wants a child to do his job.When your son is 18,then I would say it may be differnt.Your Son's job is to be a kid,not a Parent. Tell Dad to wake up.
it should be kept up on both sides, but at this point, mostly the father's, however, in order to teach you son, you should enforce a good relationship standard on his part. not necessarily make him, but maybe every now and then ask him ';have you called your father?'; ';what do you want to get your dad for his birthday?';, father's day, christmas, etc. just because their is no longer a relationship between you and him, does not mean you don't have a part in making sure your son has a relationship with him....of course the dad needs to do his part in making sure of it as well.
Parent
I think they should both call eachother. Yes the father definately should maintain contact with his son if its in the childs best interest. Its good you let your son call his father whenever he feels the need to call him.
As the adult your sons Father should maintain the contact,even if it's just to say Hi! If he doesn't work on the relationship now there won't be one in future....something he may live to regret
My Dad feels the same way about his kids who don't live at home. It is their responsibility to call, not his. It is not a black and white issue.





Some parents are not the best that they could be. That is a shame. But I would recommend that you talk to your son's father and ask him to call unexpectedly now and then (once, twice a month?). It will thrill any child and make them feel special.
The Dad should be making the effort here!!!! I bet your son thinks his Dad doesnt really want to bother with him. Thats awful. At 8 it shouldnt be his responsibility to call his Dad. Bless him. It sounds like your ex doesnt really wnat to know.
My mom always got upset when I wouldn't call her, but she'd go 4 or 5 months without calling me!





It's the parents' job! A child should not have to worry about that.
The father should be making the calls. If he doesn't and leaves it on his 8 y/o son's shoulders, he's going to regret it. Your son will grow up feeling like his father didn't want to be bothered, and he's going to resent him for it.
You are right. At a certain age like 13-14, then it really falls on the kid as to whether he wants to call his dad but until then it should be dads job.


You should ask the father that if you guys lived closer and he had visitation every weekend or whatever, if he would give your son the ';Choice'; as to whether to go with him that weekend? Chances are he'll say NO.


Its basically the same thing. Maybe you and the father should try to set up a regular scheduled phone call. Like every Wed nite or something that fits everyone schedule.
Talk to the dad and make a 50 50 compromise. One week he calls one week the son calls. My daughter went through this...and they text back and forth often.
I think the dad should do it but if you son ever wants to talk to his dad he should call.
father as in the adult
should you maybe talk to the father and say to him that even if you arrange once a week for him to phone like a specific night and time every week.


i would say that it is the fathers responsibility to keep contact at 8 years old if the child was even 12 r 13 years old then he might have a point.
no his father needs to make an effort as well especially seeing as how the child is only 8 years old. Tell the dad to grow up and take some responsibility
At 8 years old I would say it's mainly the father's job. At 8 your son is not mature enough to understand what a 16 year old may understand. Meaning, now, he may just think his father does not want to talk to him. Tell the father to grow up and call his son. This is HIS responsibility for the time being.
I think both should put forth effort. But the father should set an example by putting forth more effort, because he knows better. Your son is young, he doesn't understand it so much.